“Last week I held a 32 peg open on the Old Lake at Bury Hill as part of the run up to Autumn Silvers festival on 20 and 21 of September; where 50 anglers will be competing in what is sure to be another enjoyable event. I managed a good draw to secure fifth place with 45lbs 8oz of bream on the feeder as the fish just would not come over the pole line and I can only imagine that the reason for that, was the rain we had suffered the previous day pushing the shoals back into the deeper open water. Adam Lee fished a fine match to win on the day with 61lbs 1oz. The performance of the match was from 14-year-old Bradley Gibbons from Berkshire who came third with a creditable 53lbs 6oz of feeder-caught bream. Last Sunday was the third round of KAL at Orchard Farm in Kent and, fresh from my win on the Rother, I was not really looking forward to it as with 54 anglers on a 60 peg lake, the tiddly F1’s were going to prove even more finicky to catch. The round was a disaster as my team NDP10 finished last on the day and my 32lbs 8oz got me nowhere, as Dean Lock recorded the only ton up bag to win with 114lbs.

A better day

The following day I was back at Monk Lakes fishing a 20 peg open on Lake Two and drew peg 77 for the first time- which is one of the form pegs. The wind was blowing in the other direction so I was a bit concerned, as the fish do follow the wind but I caught steady without going mad, to put 51 fish in the net for 157lbs and sixth place. With carp up to 6lbs and barbel up to 4lbs it was a very enjoyable match which blew the cobwebs away from the previous day’s disaster.

A guest spot

This Sunday I am guesting for my old team Sport One in the Rye teams of four on the River Rother and by all reports the river is still gin clear. No doubt it will be another difficult match but I am still looking forward to spending another day on my favourite river. My diary in September is solid and starting next week I am off to Decoy Lakes in Peterborough for the Barclays National individual and team event which I am very much looking forward to. With two days of practice and two match days it is going to be a nice break on a venue I have not seen before and with news of barbel stocked in the entire match lakes, let battle with the whiskers commence! Tight Lines.” 

Russ Evans